The reason, naturally, was love: he fell for Persephone. That was one of the few times Hades traveled above ground. The Abduction of Persephoneīy far the most important myth is Hades’ abduction of Persephone, Demeter’s daughter. Since Hades was a fearsome deity who rarely left his kingdom, there are very few myths about him in Ancient Greek sources. Hades' EpithetsĪmong the Ancient Greeks, Hades was known as “the Other Zeus.” Homer even calls him “The Infernal Zeus,” in addition to “the grisly God.” He was also called “the host of many” or “the Attractor of Man” – since all men eventually went to serve him. As Plouton, he was sometimes shown with a cornucopia, the horn of plenty. At a later stage, he became associated with his weapon of choice, the bident, a two-pronged fork modeled after Poseidon’s trident. Every so often he carries a scepter or holds the key to his kingdom. Cerberus, the three-headed dog which guarded the entrance to the Underworld, is usually beside him. He frequently wears a helmet, named the Helm of Darkness or the Cap of Invisibility. When he was, he was most commonly portrayed with a beard, and a solemn, mournful look. Consequently, he was rarely depicted in art. Hades' Portrayal and SymbolismĪs the ruler of the dead, Hades was a grim and ghastly figure, inspiring awe and terror in everybody. So, since minerals and precious metals are found underground, they often referred to Hades euphemistically as Plouton – namely, “The Wealth-Giver.” Unsurprisingly, Hades’ Roman equivalent is called Pluto as well. However, the Ancient Greeks rarely used this name – just like Christians rarely used the word “Hell” during the Middle Ages. Hades means “The Unseen One” – a suitable name since Hades is the ruler of the invisible world.
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